Making Contact
Scripture – John 4:7-10: When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Jesus is open to anyone. There seem to be no boundaries. Based on His Jewish background and the cultural climate of His day, He could have ignored this woman, and she would not have given it a second thought. However, He chose to speak to her, to ask her for a favor and to be willing to drink from a Samaritan bucket. She was surprised and, I think, a bit confused. There are many people throughout the day I ignore. And they expect that. The other day in a restaurant, the busboy brought us more coffee. I made it a point to catch his eye and say, “Thank you.” He smiled as he looked back at me and said, “You’re welcome.” It was a quick moment of human contact in a setting where most people – customers and employees – just act out their roles. This woman at the well had no idea what was about to happen because Jesus initiated authentic contact with her.
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will look at some people today. I’m off to a conference with other pastors. We can be the worst at not really seeing or hearing one another. I will be intentional about breaking out of that role this day.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Help me see people today, Lord, through your eyes. Erase the artificial boundaries I tend to establish and observe. Thank you for contacting me.
Observation – (Write down what you see in the scripture.) Jesus is open to anyone. There seem to be no boundaries. Based on His Jewish background and the cultural climate of His day, He could have ignored this woman, and she would not have given it a second thought. However, He chose to speak to her, to ask her for a favor and to be willing to drink from a Samaritan bucket. She was surprised and, I think, a bit confused. There are many people throughout the day I ignore. And they expect that. The other day in a restaurant, the busboy brought us more coffee. I made it a point to catch his eye and say, “Thank you.” He smiled as he looked back at me and said, “You’re welcome.” It was a quick moment of human contact in a setting where most people – customers and employees – just act out their roles. This woman at the well had no idea what was about to happen because Jesus initiated authentic contact with her.
Application – (Write how you will be different today because of what you have just read.) I will look at some people today. I’m off to a conference with other pastors. We can be the worst at not really seeing or hearing one another. I will be intentional about breaking out of that role this day.
Prayer – (Write out a brief prayer.) Help me see people today, Lord, through your eyes. Erase the artificial boundaries I tend to establish and observe. Thank you for contacting me.
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